iOS developershttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/6241/all
enMorning Report: Fallon & Timberlake Say iPhone 6 is Huge, iOS 8 a Hithttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_fallon_timberlake_say_iphone_6_huge_ios_8_hit
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/iphone_6_cameras_commercial_620px.png" alt="iPhone 6 Cameras commercial" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Judging from Apple's own App Store data, an awful lot of folks have upgraded to iOS 8 in the first five days! We've got all the details on that number, along with a look at the latest pair of Fallon/Timerlake iPhone 6 commercials, and news of an Adobe-Aviary mashup that looks promising for mobile shutterbugs.</p><h3>Apple Developer Website Touts 46% Adoption Rate for iOS 8</h3><p>Wednesday will mark one week since the arrival of iOS 8, and judging from a pie chart casually <a href="https://developer.apple.com/support/appstore/" target="_blank">posted to Apple's online Developer portal</a>, nearly half of all iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads are already running the latest and greatest mobile operating system out of Cupertino.<br /><br />According to Apple, the exact figure is 46 percent — quite an impressive number, considering iOS 8 was only released to the public on September 17, and the App Store data is already two days old, measured on September 21. iOS 7 still takes the lead with 49 percent, while a mere five percent of devices are still running an unspecified "earlier" version of the OS — presumably models that have been jailbroken or are unable to install the later versions.</p><h3>Apple Posts Two New iPhone 6 Commercials</h3><p>On the heels of yesterday's announcement of 10 million iPhone 6 units sold during the first weekend, Apple is turning up the marketing heat with <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone-6/films/#video-product" target="_blank">a pair of new television commercials</a> (embedded below) — not that they need any help getting consumers to line up around the block to buy the devices right now.<br /><br />The new 30-second spots are done in the same style as "Duo" and "Health," the pair of commercials Apple premiered during the keynote two weeks ago. Featuring the voices of Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon and performer Justin Timberlake, "Huge" finds the duo bantering back and forth about whether the new features or the size of the hardware are more important, while "Cameras" puts the emphasis on the new time-lapse mode and image-stabilization features.</p><p><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/I3uAoeQBpcQ" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AdbggN5XB0Y" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><h3>Adobe Acquires Mobile Photo Editing Service Aviary</h3><p>Although the built-in iOS Photos app now includes powerful tools for editing images, for years such tasks have fallen to popular third-party solutions like Aviary, which offers a rich API capable of empowering other apps, such as the cloud-based Picturelife. But that may only scratch the surface of what is possible now that <a href="http://www.adobe.com/news-room/pressreleases/201409/092214AdobeAcquiresAviary.html" target="_blank">Adobe announced the acquisition of Aviary on Monday</a>, and appears to have some ambitious plans to help power a new mobile-centric Creative SDK.<br /><br />According to Adobe, the purchase of Aviary will help accelerate third-party APIs, allowing developers to browse files stored in Creative Cloud, extract elements from PSD files, access cloud-based image-editing services, and much more. <a href="http://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2014/09/empowering-future-of-mobile-creativity.html?scid=social32099956" target="_blank">A separate blog post</a> offering insight on the deal promises "a whole set of updates and new apps" that will be launched at the company's annual Adobe MAX conference in Los Angeles on October 6, with even more great things to come in the months ahead.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_fallon_timberlake_say_iphone_6_huge_ios_8_hit#commentsNewsAdobeadoption rateApple Inc.AviaryiOS 8iOS developersiphone 6iPhone 6 Plusmobile appsMorning ReportiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 23 Sep 2014 12:22:56 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20674 at http://www.maclife.comMorning Report: Apple Support Reveals New Macs, Best Buy Tablet Sales Crash, Roxio Toast 12http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_support_reveals_new_macs_best_buy_tablet_sales_crash_roxio_toast_12
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/best_buy_samsung_tablets_620px.png" alt="Best Buy Samsung tablets" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>If you happen to follow one or more iOS app developers on Twitter, you've probably noticed an uptick in posts about the challenges they face in surviving as independents. <a href="http://blog.jaredsinclair.com/post/93118460565/a-candid-look-at-unreads-first-year" target="_blank">One of the most detailed comes from developer Jared Sinclair</a>, who outlined the first year's worth of sales activity for his RSS app Unread, and it's a bit of a sobering view on how even quality titles can fail to produce sustainable income. Apparently the same might be said about tablets, judging from today's Morning Report...</p><h3>Apple Support Pages Out Unannounced Mid-2014 iMac, Mac mini</h3><p>The gang in Cupertino doesn't often make typographical errors on their website, but yesterday, the eagle-eyed folks at&nbsp;<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/07/29/mac-mini-mid-2014-model-listed-on-apple-support-page-could-indicate-product-refresh-coming-soon/" target="_blank">9to5Mac spotted</a>&nbsp;what could potentially be one or two of them.&nbsp;<a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634?viewlocale=en_US&amp;locale=en_US" target="_blank">A support page</a>&nbsp;outlining which versions of Windows work with Boot Camp on various Mac models briefly referenced "Mac mini (Mid 2014)," a product refresh that has yet to be announced, let alone actually released to the public.<br /><br />While that appears to be a mistake now that the listing has been corrected,&nbsp;a second potential gaffe&nbsp;has turned up on the exact same page for an "iMac (27-inch, Mid 2014)" — presumably a larger version of the 21.5-inch iMac refresh last month. It remains to be seen if it's just another mistake or an actual spec bump that could go live soon.</p><h3>Best Buy CEO Sounds Alarm Over "Crashing" Tablet Sales</h3><p>Here's a bit of news that probably won't sit well with executives at Apple and other tablet makers. <a href="http://recode.net/2014/07/30/exclusive-interview-best-buy-ceo-says-tablet-sales-are-crashing-sees-hope-for-pcs/" target="_blank">Re/code published an interview</a> with Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly today discussing how the retailer has managed to survive with more than 1,000 stores where all other competitors have failed, and why PC sales may actually be on the upswing in the wake of the tablet boom.<br /><br />"The tablets boomed and now are crashing," Joly explained. "The volume has really gone down in the last several months. But I think the laptop has something of a revival because it’s becoming more versatile. So, with the two-in-ones, you have the opportunity to have both a tablet and laptop, and that’s appealing to students in particular. So you have an evolution. The boundaries are not as well defined as they used to be."<br /><br />Joly specifically cited Microsoft's Surface as leading the charge for hybrid tablet/laptop devices, while noting consumers apparently think once they've purchased a tablet, there's little need to upgrade to the next generation model — which will certainly come as sour news to the manufacturers of such devices.</p><h3><span style="font-size: 1.17em;">Roxio Debuts Toast 12 for Mac with Live Screen Capture</span></h3><p><a href="http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/-1933516.htm" target="_blank">Roxio announced Tuesday</a> the release of Toast 12 Titanium and Toast 12 Pro, new versions of the company's venerable software for burning optical discs on the Mac. With nearly every Mac model now shipping without a SuperDrive, Roxio has diversified a bit, now offering live screen capture and enhanced support for sharing content to iPhone, iPad, and other mobile devices, while adding the ability to burn HD-quality AVCHD video onto standard DVDs capable of playing back on Blu-ray players.<br /><br />Speaking of Blu-ray, Toast 12 Pro also adds built-in support for burning HD movies to that format, along with a "digital media toolkit" of additional third-party applications, including HDR Express 2 for enhancing photos, FotoMagico 3 RE for animating images, isotope Music &amp; Speech Cleaner, SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 5.8 for creating custom soundtracks, and Reallusion FaceFilter 3 for photo retouching.<br /><br />Roxio Toast 12 Titanium and Toast 12 Pro are now available as electronic downloads for $99.99 and $149.99 respectively, and will be available from "selected retail partners" in September.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="https://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/morning_report_apple_support_reveals_new_macs_best_buy_tablet_sales_crash_roxio_toast_12#commentsNews27-inch iMacbest buyiOS developersMac minimajor retailersMorning ReportRoxioRSStabletsToast 12UnreadiPadMacWed, 30 Jul 2014 12:33:21 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20392 at http://www.maclife.comApple Cracks Down on Apps Offering Rewards for Social Sharinghttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_cracks_down_apps_offering_rewards_social_sharing
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/app_store_icon_on_screen_620px.png" alt="App Store icon" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Cupertino may have put smiles on the faces of iOS developers at last week's WWDC, but some of those with less scruples may soon find their apps rejected from the App Store.<br /><br /><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/09/apple-begins-rejecting-apps-that-offer-rewards-for-video-views-social-sharing/" target="_blank">TechCrunch reported Monday</a> that Apple appears to be taking a stand against developers attempting to monetize their apps through "incentivized video viewing" and rewards for social sharing.<br /><br />According to an unnamed developer who posted to StackOverflow, such apps run afoul of two sections in Apple's Developer Guidelines, despite the app in question having been updated four times previously.<br /><br />Section 2.25 clearly notes "Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected," while section 3.10 targets "Developers who attempt to manipulate or cheat the user reviews or chart ranking in the App Store with fake or paid reviews."<br /><br />In this developer's case, an App Store reviewer specifically cited the app for “promoting other apps not your own" and for offering up "free in-game credits for watching videos of other apps by developers other than yourself" — including posting to Facebook in exchange for a reward of some kind, such as in-app content.<br /><br />The report notes that many developers use such tactics in an effort to manipulate their own app rankings, which could be bad news for companies like Flurry, AdColony, and Tapjoy who offer cross-promotion services, such as incentives for watching brief in-app videos.<br /><br />Worse yet (for developers, anyway), such rejections could soon be applied retroactively, suggesting that Apple is going out of its way to stomp out such practices on the App Store at long last.<br /><br />As one Apple reviewer put it: “You can advertise your own games via the standard ad networks. However, when you have a ‘More Games’ or ‘Other Games’ you should only market your own games," which should benefit more traditional advertising networks, including Apple's own iAds.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Image courtesy of Mashable)</em></p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_cracks_down_apps_offering_rewards_social_sharing#commentsNewsApp StoreApple Inc.developer guidelinesDevelopersincentivesiOS developersrejectionsrewardssocial sharingiPadiPhoneiPodMon, 09 Jun 2014 21:23:35 +0000J.R. Bookwalter20114 at http://www.maclife.comEA First iOS Developer to Offer Promo Code for In-App Purchaseshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/ea_first_ios_developer_offer_promo_code_inapp_purchases
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ea_real_racing_3_redeem_free_gold_620px.png" alt="Real Racing 3 free gold" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>iOS developers have long been able to offer promotion codes, which give customers free copies of their apps — but Apple has never allowed such codes to be used for in-app purchases, at least not until this week.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/05/15/developers-promo-codes-in-app-purchase/" target="_blank">MacRumors reported Thursday</a> that Electronic Arts became the first iOS developer to offer a free promo code to unlock an in-app purchase for its free-to-download Real Racing 3.<br /><br />Once redeemed, the promo code in question provides customers a free gold pack worth $1.99, allowing Real Racing 3 players to "supercharge and customize" their cars with 10 pieces of virtual currency.<br /><br />We were able confirm this by <a href="http://realracinggold.ea.com/:b/" target="_blank">visiting this link</a> from our iOS device (in this case, an iPhone 5s), and after entering our Apple ID password, the App Store unlocked a "Handful of Gold," even without having Real Racing 3 installed at the time.<br /><br />The in-app purchase redemption appears to have created some confusion, as Apple's developer website clearly states "promo codes don't work for In-App purchase products, including Newsstand issues."<br /><br />Presumably, Apple worked with EA to make this promotion possible, suggesting the iPhone maker could open IAP promo codes to all developers in the near future — and with the annual Worldwide Developer Conference taking place in just over two weeks, such an announcement could arrive sooner rather than later.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/ea_first_ios_developer_offer_promo_code_inapp_purchases#commentsNewsApp StoreElectronic ArtsfreebiesGoldIn-App PurchasesiOS developerspromo codesReal Racing 3WWDC 2014iPadiPhoneiPodFri, 16 May 2014 12:24:20 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19966 at http://www.maclife.comApple Begins Testing Related Search Suggestions on iOS App Storehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_begins_testing_related_search_suggestions_ios_app_store
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/app_store_related_suggestions_620px.png" alt="App Store Related suggestions" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>The rapid growth of Apple's App Store has been great for developers and iOS users alike, but that success often comes with frustration when trying to search for a new app — a task that may soon get a bit easier.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.macstories.net/news/apple-testing-related-search-suggestions-on-the-app-store/" target="_blank">MacStories reported Tuesday</a> that Apple appears to be experimenting with a new "Related" option on the iOS App Store, which offers additional search suggestions similar to the one entered by the user.<br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/oosadcha/status/448264230207094784?screen_name=oosadcha" target="_blank">First noted by one of the developers of TIME Planner</a>, the new menu appears underneath the existing search field, serving up related queries based on the app category the user is searching.<br /><br />For example, the search queries "calendar" and "news reader" shown above offer related suggestions such as "calendar planner" and "daily planner" for the former, and "feed reader" and "business news" for the latter.<br /><br />The report notes that Apple's use of Related suggestions appears very similar to Chomp, a startup that Cupertino acquired two years ago and could finally be starting to implement in the App Store.<br /><br />Unfortunately, readers may not want to rush to the App Store to see Related results just yet — the feature appears to be something Apple is merely testing at the moment, and as such it won't appear for just everyone. (We aren't seeing it at our end, but feel free to chime in on the comments if it's showing up for you!)<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of MacStories)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_begins_testing_related_search_suggestions_ios_app_store#commentsNewsapp namesApp StoreApple Inc.apple searchfind appsiOS developersqueriesRelatedsearchsearchingsuggestionsiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 25 Mar 2014 13:04:30 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19617 at http://www.maclife.comFleksy's Alternative Keyboard Now Available to All iOS Developershttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/fleksys_alternative_keyboard_now_available_all_ios_developers
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/fleksy_sdk_620px.png" alt="Fleksy SDK" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Assuming Apple doesn't introduce big changes to its software keyboard with iOS 8 this year, the folks at Fleksy may be our best hope for change now that they've opened the doors to all developers with an SDK.<br /><a href="http://fleksy.com/sdk/" target="_blank"><br />Fleksy today announced</a> the availability of its software development kit (SDK) to all iOS developers, a major step forward for users hoping for a third-party alternative keyboard for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.<br /><br />In December, Fleksy announced its ambitious plans with the launch of keyboard support for four apps, including the popular Launch Center Pro. At the time, the SDK was a closed beta, but today's release opens the doors to any and all developers.<br /><br />"With its latest update, the Fleksy SDK is now completely free of charge, requires no sign up and allows any developer to implement it in minutes, with zero lines of code and without having to make any changes to their app at all," the company announced Thursday. "Switching between Fleksy and the iOS keyboard is also completely streamlined."<br /><br />Additional Fleksy powered apps are also available today, including You Doodle, Write for iPhone, Tap Forms Organizer and Secure Database and Remoter VNC - Remote Desktop. Fleksy for iOS is a free app available from the App Store, and developers can <a href="http://fleksy.com/sdk/" target="_blank">download the SDK</a> right now.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/fleksys_alternative_keyboard_now_available_all_ios_developers#commentsNewsalternativesApp Storeapp updatesFleksyfree appsiOS 7iOS developersKeyboardsnew featuresSDKthird-partyiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 20 Feb 2014 14:56:19 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19372 at http://www.maclife.comDeveloper Offers Video Sneak Peek of How iOS in the Car Might Workhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/developer_offers_video_sneak_peek_how_ios_car_might_work
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_in_the_car_preview_620px.png" alt="iOS in the Car preview" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Putting off the purchase of your next automobile because Apple has yet to unleash iOS in the Car? An enterprising developer cobbled together a video of how the service might work using the current version of iOS 7.<br /><a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2014/01/28/ios-in-the-car-video/" target="_blank"><br />MacRumors reported Tuesday</a> that developer Steven Troughton-Smith has followed up <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/alleged_leaked_photos_show_significant_design_shift_ios_car" target="_blank">last week's screenshot tease</a> of Apple's forthcoming iOS in the Car with a video that demonstrates some of the functionality.<br /><br />Cupertino has poised iOS in the Car as an alternative to the clunky in-dash displays currently used for navigation, phone calls and music playback. (Ford MyTouch + Sync, we're looking at you!) Apple plans to roll out the service sometime this year, but drivers won't have to wait that long to get a taste of what's in store.<br /><br />Using the iOS Simulator and iOS in the Car functionality hidden in the current iOS 7.0.3, Troughton-Smith managed to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5OZMu5u0yU" target="_blank">put together a video</a> of what the in-dash display might look like -- and from early indications, the user interface has seen improvements with the latest iOS 7.1 beta recently released to developers.<br /><br />Check out the video embedded below to get a taste of what Apple has in store for drivers in the near future!<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter<br /></a><br />(Image and video courtesy of MacRumors)<br /></em></p><p><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/M5OZMu5u0yU" width="620" height="465" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/developer_offers_video_sneak_peek_how_ios_car_might_work#commentsNewsApple Mapsautomobiledrivingin-dash displayiOS 7.0.3iOS 7.1iOS developersiOS in the CarsimulatorVideosiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 28 Jan 2014 15:04:06 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19166 at http://www.maclife.comThe 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, The Week of November 30http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/10_hottest_apple_news_stories_week_november_30
<!--paging_filter--><p>Even though it was a week of travel, feasting, and shopping like fools for a good number of Americans, that doesn't mean things weren't percolating in the Apple news department. We've got new games, new gear, and new market dominance. That's right, Apple might be pretty popular in America, but they're big in Japan. Like huge. Meanwhile...</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/10_hottest_apple_news_stories_week_november_30#commentsGalleryNewsacuraandroidAppsDoCoMoEric Schmidtexternal hard drivegameshearing aidshondaiOS developersiphoneiPhone 5CiPhone 5SMavericksSiriWestern DigitalSat, 30 Nov 2013 15:29:01 +0000J Keirn-Swanson18749 at http://www.maclife.comAppGratis CEO Vows Return of Discovery Service to App Store (Updated)http://www.maclife.com/article/news/appgratis_ceo_vows_return_discovery_service_app_store_updated
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/appgratis_200px.png" alt="AppGratis" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If you hadn't heard of AppGratis prior to this past weekend, you probably have now -- Apple pulled the company's popular app discovery service out of the App Store, and now the CEO is telling their side of the story.<br /><br />AppGratis CEO Simon Dawlat finally broke his silence Tuesday <a href="http://appgratis.com/blog/2013/04/09/appgratis-pulled-from-the-app-store-heres-the-full-story/" target="_blank">with a lengthy blog post on the company's website</a> detailing how he found out about Apple pulling its app from the App Store, and how they intend to rectify the situation.<br /><br />For Dawlat, the timing couldn't have been worse: The executive had just flown into São Paulo, Brazil after a 12-hour redeye flight from his home base in Paris to discover more than 75 missed calls and "a seemingly infinite flow of unread text messages," all wondering why the AppGratis app had vanished.<br /><br />As previously reported, Apple indeed pulled AppGratis for violation of two developer guidelines, including 2.25 which states: "Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected."<br /><br />Ironically, AppGratis had managed to circumvent that hurdle back in November, and Apple had approved an iPad version of the title only a week ago, which the company was set to debut -- until last Friday, when Apple shut down the app completely.<br /><br />"I asked how he and his team could have possibly changed their minds overnight, pretty much pulling the plug on a 45-person company," Dawlat explains, referring to the subsequent discussion with one of Apple's App Review team. "He seemed very detached regarding the gravity of the situation, and was unable to let me know on what specifics these decisions had been made."<br /><br />AppGratis was also called out on guideline 5.6 which expressly forbids an app to "send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind" -- ironic, considering the app's only use of push notifications is to notify users when a new deal is ready to download, which requires an opt-in in the first place.<br /><br />Despite these setbacks, AppGratis remains confident they'll be able to rectify the situation, but in the meantime, the service continues to work for 12 million users who have already downloaded the app.</p><p><strong>Update:</strong> <a href="http://allthingsd.com/20130410/apples-ouster-of-appgratis-is-just-the-start-of-an-app-store-crackdown/" target="_blank">AllThingsD is reporting</a> that the AppGratis removal could be "a first step in a broader enforcement action generally targeted at app-discovery apps," with sources claiming Apple may soon crack down on the remaining app discovery services as well.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/appgratis_ceo_vows_return_discovery_service_app_store_updated#commentsNewsapp discoveryApp Review teamApp StoreAppGratisApple Inc.CEOcompany blogsiOS developersviolationsiPadiPhoneiPodWed, 10 Apr 2013 12:59:53 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16692 at http://www.maclife.comApple Yanks Chinese E-Book App Over Banned Contenthttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_yanks_chinese_ebook_app_over_banned_content
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_app_store_icon_200px.jpg" alt="iOS App Store icon" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Only days after CEO Tim Cook's public apology to Chinese consumers, Apple is now appeasing the Communist government there by pulling an e-books app containing content banned in the country.<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-04/apple-pulls-bookstore-app-in-china-over-illegal-content-ft-says.html" target="_blank"><br />Bloomberg reported Thursday</a> that Apple has removed an unnamed e-book app created by developer Hao Peiqiang from the Chinese App Store, apparently because it includes three works by a political activist whose content is banned in the country.<br /><br />The app in question is described as an "online bookstore" offering access to 10 different titles, only three of which were written by Wang Lixiong, the author whose work is considered illegal to publish in China.<br /><br />"One of the banned works available on the online bookstore is about the future of China’s policies in Tibet, while another addresses the future collapse of the Chinese government," Bloomberg elaborated. "The third book details Wang’s visit to Xinjiang and his detention by state security officers."<br /><br />While no one from Apple China has yet commented on the removal, the report notes the e-book app continues to be offered in the App Store in other parts of the world - but apparently the U.S. store is not one of them.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_yanks_chinese_ebook_app_over_banned_content#commentsNewsApp StoreApple Inc.authorsBannedChinacontentdigital bookse-booksiOS developerspolitical activistiPadiPhoneiPodFri, 05 Apr 2013 12:08:28 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16656 at http://www.maclife.comDevelopers Voice Frustrations with Apple's iCloud, Company Remains Silenthttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/developers_voice_frustrations_apples_icloud_company_remains_silent
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/icloud_logo_200px.png" alt="iCloud" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Although late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs touted iCloud as seamless and simple when it was first introduced in 2011, developers have found that's not quite the case on their end, and they're lashing out as a result.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/26/4148628/why-doesnt-icloud-just-work" target="_blank">The Verge reported Tuesday</a> that Apple has largely failed to live up to the promises made nearly two years ago when the iPhone maker rolled out iCloud, its follow-up to the troubled MobileMe service that's widely viewed as a rare black eye for Cupertino.<br /><br />At the iCloud unveil in 2011, Apple CEO Steve Jobs promised a solution that was equally easy for developers as well as users, claiming "it just works."<br /><br />"Everything happens automatically, and it’s really easy to tie your apps into iCloud’s storage system," Jobs promised at the time.<br /><br />Unfortunately, third-party developers have found that's not quite the case -- at least not for apps that require Core Data sync with databases.<br /><br />"The promise of iCloud’s Core Data support is that it will solve all of the thorny issues of syncing a database by breaking up each change into a transaction log," one prominent developer told The Verge. "Except it just doesn’t work."<br /><br />"iCloud with Core Data is a developer’s worst nightmare," another developer elaborated. "It’s frustrating, maddening, and costs hundreds of support hours." In extreme cases, customer data can even be permanently corrupted -- an unforgivable sin for any application.<br /><br />While the iCloud situation improved from iOS 5 to iOS 6, plenty of questions remain -- and Apple has been largely silent on the subject thus far, with as few as four people rumored to actually be working on Core Data within the company.<br /><br />The solution for many developers has been to abandon iCloud support entirely, which isn't exactly ideal for end users clamoring for simplicity. Nor are third-party options such as Dropbox, which developers claim also has issues with database syncing.<br /><br />For now, third-party developers wait for Apple's 2013 Worldwide Developer Conference, where they hope the company will finally introduce an updated version of iCloud that works the way it was originally pitched to them.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/developers_voice_frustrations_apples_icloud_company_remains_silent#commentsNewsApple Inc.Bugscloud syncCore DataiCloudiOS developersSteve JobsWorldwide Developers ConferenceWWDC 2013iPadiPhoneiPodMacWed, 27 Mar 2013 13:16:02 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16589 at http://www.maclife.comZite Manages to Create Its Own Basic Google Reader Service in 6 Hourshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/zite_manages_create_its_own_basic_google_reader_service_6_hours
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/zite_google_reader_feed_200px.png" alt="Google Reader feeds in Zite" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Tech fans the world over are mourning Google's decision to bury Reader this summer, and there are no shortage of contenders rising to take its place -- including Zite, who claims to have rebuilt Reader's core functionality in only six hours.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.zite.com/2013/03/14/google-reader-is-dead-so-we-rebuilt-it-for-you-in-zite-in-six-hours/" target="_blank">Zite announced last week</a> that it had successfully managed to create a replacement for Google Reader "from start to finish, in six hours." Needless to say, the service is dependent upon the company's own app, but it holds promise that Google Reader may have a proper replacement when the search giant pulls the plug on July 1, 2013.<br /><br />"We at Zite were sad to hear about Google Reader’s impending demise," the company explains in a blog post. "Google Reader and Zite have always been complementary products: GR providing news from sources you’ve subscribed to manually and Zite giving you news algorithmically-targeted from the whole web."<br /><br />Created in only six hours, the basic feed reading capabilities rely heavily on Zite's backend, which was already compatible with Google Reader as a source for the company's "personalization algorithms" that are used for discovering what type of articles to serve up to readers.<br /><br />As cool as the implementation may be, there are a number of limitations -- for example, the Google Reader section only appears after restarting the app, and not every RSS feed is currently indexed by Zite. There's also no way to edit feeds, no folder support and no ongoing sync with Google Reader -- not that it's going to matter soon anyway.<br /><br />"We know there’s a lot more to do to improve this functionality within Zite, but we’re excited that we’ve been able to build something so quickly for disgruntled Google Reader users and look forward to adding more features," the developer concludes.<br /><br />Check it out by downloading the free Zite app and linking your Google Reader account to it from either the initial setup or the Explore section.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/zite_manages_create_its_own_basic_google_reader_service_6_hours#commentsNewsApp Storefree appsfunctionalityGoogle ReaderiOS developerslimitationsRSSRSS FeedssubscriptionsZiteiPadiPhoneiPodMon, 18 Mar 2013 13:12:08 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16505 at http://www.maclife.comApple Quietly Debuts AppStore.com URL During Super Bowlhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_quietly_debuts_appstorecom_url_during_super_bowl
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_app_store_icon_200px.jpg" alt="iOS App Store icon" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If you blinked you might have missed it last night, but Apple is finally rolling out short links for App Store apps which use the AppStore.com domain name -- and developers can get in on it as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57567366-37/apples-appstore.com-makes-stealth-super-bowl-debut/?part=rss&amp;subj=news&amp;tag=title" target="_blank">CNET is reporting</a> that Apple managed to sneak a new product offering into somebody else's Super Bowl ad on Sunday night with the debut of new AppStore.com links for iOS apps.<br /><br />Don't remember seeing it? The domain name appeared quickly at the tail end of the new Star Trek: Into Darkness trailer that Paramount aired during the game, which teased an exclusive app now available on the App Store.<br /><br />AppStore.com functions identically to the existing short links Apple uses for App Store apps, but obviously the domain name approach is far easier to use, and whatever comes after it <a href="https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#qa/qa1633/_index.html" target="_blank">can be customized by developers</a> to fit their own branding for either iOS or Mac.</p><p><img src="/files/u220903/appstore.com_star_trek_620px.jpg" alt="Star Trek: Into Darkness trailer AppStore.com" width="620" height="300" /><br /><br />The report also notes that the domain name has an interesting history: Late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was gifted AppStore.com from Salesforce CEO Mac Benioff after the iOS App Store made its debut in 2008.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Image courtesy of CNET)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_quietly_debuts_appstorecom_url_during_super_bowl#commentsNewsAdvertisingApp StoreAppStore.comcnetiOS developersmac app storeParamountStar TrekSteve JobsSuper BowliPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 04 Feb 2013 14:23:23 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16147 at http://www.maclife.comFifth Beta of iOS 6.1 Arrives for Developers, Few Surprises to Be Foundhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/fifth_beta_ios_61_arrives_developers_few_surprises_be_found
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_6_logo_temp_200px.png" alt="iOS 6" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" /></p><p>Apple gave bored developers something to do over the weekend by pushing out a fifth beta for the upcoming iOS 6.1 on Saturday, despite rumors that a Gold Master release was imminent.<br /><br /><a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/01/26/apple-seeds-fifth-ios-61-beta-version-to-developers" target="_blank">AppleInsider reported Saturday</a> that Apple has released iOS 6.1 Beta 5 to developers, immediately pouring cold water on recent rumors that Cupertino would be releasing the final version soon.<br /><br />The initial beta was released last November, some two months after iOS 6 made its public debut. iOS 6.1 is said to bring the ability to purchase Fandango movie tickets via Siri, "refined iCloud security" during setup and enhanced mapping options.<br /><br />Following the fourth beta released just prior to the Christmas holidays last month, many assumed the build would be the last. While the fifth build of iOS 6.1 pushed out over the weekend could ultimately wind up being the Gold Master (GM) release, it seems Apple -- and developers -- still have some tweaking to do.<br /><br />Although there's little in the way of surprises with the latest beta release, <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/01/27/apple-could-be-planning-ios-device-with-128gb-of-storage" target="_blank">a separate report notes</a> that iDownloadBlog has discovered what appears to be a reference to a 128GB iOS device in a BuildManifest file, prompting many to speculate that the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad could soon be doubling their storage capacity once again.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_early_jobs_reviews_facebook_settlement_staples_apple" target="_self">As noted in our Weekend Recap</a>, it now appears more likely that only the fourth-generation iPad will be getting the storage bump -- the one device where it actually makes sense, although it's not hard to imagine 128GB eventually being offered on other devices as well.</p><p><strong>UPDATE: </strong>Several hours after this story was published, the public release of iOS 6.1 went live.</p><p><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/fifth_beta_ios_61_arrives_developers_few_surprises_be_found#commentsNews128GBApple Inc.Beta 5developer betagold masterios 6.1iOS developersnew featuresstorage capacityiPadiPhoneiPodMon, 28 Jan 2013 13:46:35 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16089 at http://www.maclife.comApple Locks App Screenshots After Approval to Prevent Deceptionhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_locks_app_screenshots_after_approval_prevent_deception
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_app_store_icon_200px.jpg" alt="iOS App Store icon" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />While many of us are perfectly content not to know the inner workings of how apps are sold on the App Store, no one likes to be cheated -- such as a developer with lower scruples swapping out screenshots after an app has been approved.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.imore.com/apple-removes-anytime-screenshot-updates-combat-scam-apps" target="_blank">As noted by iMore on Wednesday</a>, Apple is plugging yet another hole in its App Store, <a href="https://developer.apple.com/news/index.php?id=1092013a" target="_blank">notifying developers</a> that app screenshots will now be locked once the title is approved, and cannot be changed again until a new binary is uploaded to accompany them.<br /><br />The move is intended to thwart an increasingly thorny problem on the App Store, where developers get their title approved with the proper screenshots, then swap them out after the fact for something more sinister, such as images from products they don't own or have a license to.<br /><br />This kind of bait and switch has become common on lesser-known titles in the App Store, which try to pass themselves off as something more popular to attract sales from customers who don't know any better.<br /><br />"Beginning January 9, app screenshots will be locked in iTunes Connect once your app has been approved," Apple's brief news to developers <a href="https://developer.apple.com/news/index.php?id=1092013a" target="_blank">noted on Wednesday</a>.<br /><br />"New screenshots may be uploaded when you submit a binary for an update to an existing app or a new app. For more information on capturing and using screenshots, read the Xcode User Guide."<br /><br />Kudos to Apple for plugging this hole, although we're sure developer scammers will just find another way to cheat us out of our hard earned money instead…<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_locks_app_screenshots_after_approval_prevent_deception#commentsNewsapp approvalApp StoreApple Inc.binaryiOS developersiTunes Connectmac developersrip-offsscreenshotsiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 10 Jan 2013 13:53:41 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15962 at http://www.maclife.com